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A date has been set for the next court hearing of Aasia Bibi- By Nasir Saeed

Aasia will appear before the Honourable Mr. Justice Sardar Tariq Massod and Mr. Justice Abdula Sami Khan on April 14 for final arguments.

Given the recent decisions made against people charged under the blasphemy law, it is not looking likely that the judgment against Aasia will be favourable.

On April 4, a Pakistani Christian couple, Shafaqat Emmanuel, a crippled 38-year-old man, and his wife Shagufta Kausar, 42, were found guilty of sending a text message insulting the Prophet Muhammad to the imam of their local mosque.

They were sentenced to death just days after Sawan Masih was given the same sentence for for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad during a conversation with a Muslim friend in Lahore’s Joseph Colony last March.

It is thought the judges were biased when making their decisions and did so under pressure from Islamic extremists.

But despite this backdrop and a history of similar cases against Christians, Aasia and CLAAS are still hopeful the decision will go her way.

She has always protested her innocence and if the judges’ base their decisions on the merits of her case, rather than political pressure, she should be cleared.

Nasir Saeed, Director CLAAS UK, is asking the international community and Christians all over the world to pray for Aasia and a positive outcome for her case.

He said: “We are optimistic that justice will prevail and that Aasia will be cleared of all charges. However, we need the prayers of the international church and Christian supporters so that the judges can be free of all pressure from Islamic extremists and make a just decision according to the facts, and fearing God.

“We also need prayers for Aasia, so that she remains strong in her belief in Christ, and had faith that she will be freed.”